Maple syrup is one of Canada’s most iconic sweet treats, loved for its unique flavour and natural origin. However,...
Discover major Canadian cities
Ottawa
Ottawa, the Canadian capital, is located in eastern Ontario, near the border with Quebec. It is located just 200 km from Montreal and 400 km from Toronto. 950,000 people live in the city and 1.5 million in its outskirts.
Ottawa is less well known than other cities, but history buffs know it is a symbol of Canadian patriotism. THE seat of government, the impressive Parliament Building, sits atop Parliament Hill.
The city is crossed by the Rideau Canal where all kinds of boats pass. In winter, the canal turns into a 7 km skating rink when its waters freeze. The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ottawa is home to some of the best museums and art galleries in the world. These are the Canadian War Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
The capital is also a place of festivals and celebrations. Canada Day is celebrated here on July 1. In February, the Winterlude festival celebrates the cold. Other events that take place there include the Canadian Tulip Festival, the Jazz Festival and the Blues Fest.
It is the city of origin of beaver tails, a pastry fried and dusted with icing sugar, ground cinnamon and/or whipped cream. You can also taste very good ones at the Byward Market.
Toronto: the most American of Canadian cities
Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is located on Lake Ontario, a 4-hour drive from Ottawa. It is the largest city in the country, and also the one that attracts the most visitors. Moreover, the state of New York is just across from Toronto.
Its must-see places are the CN tower, Toronto Island, Casa Loma, the Toronto Zoo and Nathan Phillips Square. The city also has museums: the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
Part of the city is made up of several small hubs from different communities. For example, there is the Greek community in Danforth, but there is also a Little Italy and a Chinatown in Toronto. Each of these neighborhoods has its own green spaces, restaurants and shops that are very specific to it. You can almost take a small trip around the world by going from one neighborhood to another.
Toronto is also known for its many sports teams. In hockey, it's the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors in basketball and Toronto Blue Jays in baseball.
It is a multicultural metropolis, very active and which is also nature-oriented with many parks. Around Lake Ontario, you can take walks on the banks or stroll on its beaches, explore High Park or the Toronto Islands which are accessible by ferry.
This city has almost 3 million inhabitants. Canada's most diverse city is attracting ever-increasing numbers of foreign workers and international students. Half of the city's population are immigrants. It is this diversity that makes Toronto such an attractive city.
Vancouver:
The capital of British Columbia is on the west coast. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. It is against the Pacific Ocean and backed by the snow-capped mountains on the northern coastline. Many American film shoots have taken place there.
Vancouver is considered one of Canada's best living cities, but also one of those with the highest cost of living. It is very cosmopolitan, and offers a number of cultural activities and places of interest. Among them you have the Vancouver Art Gallery, the city aquarium, Science World, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Granville Island, the UBC Museum of Anthropology and the First Nations Museum.
In Downtown, most trips can be made on foot and there are things to discover in all neighborhoods. In Downtown Vancouver, on the peninsula, everything is built upwards. Downtown is home to Stanley Park - one of the largest in North America - and English Bay to its south.
Vancouver's greatest advantage is that it concentrates nature and urban life in one place. One can enjoy nature in many ways without even leaving the city. With its mild temperatures and nature on the doorstep, it is the guarantee of spending as much time as possible outside.
Vancouver also has many green spaces: Queen Elizabeth, Memorial South, Central, Everett-Crowley, Byrne Creek Ravine and Van Dusen Botanical Gardens. Kitsilano's beaches are also worth exploring. You can also go hiking in the forest in Pacific Spirit Park.
Other places of interest include the campus of the University of British Columbia. Passing tourists enjoy Granville Island famous for its market and Main Street - the place for gourmands and foodies.
There are approximately 600,000 inhabitants in Vancouver - including 500,000 in Downtown - and 2.5 million in the periphery. Each of the municipalities of the latter is independent.
Montreal:
Second largest city in Canada, Montreal is also the largest French-speaking metropolis after Paris. Located in Quebec, it is halfway between Canadian culture and French culture.
Its European cultural heritage is rich, as evidenced by the stone architecture of its buildings.
Old Montreal - the old colonial city - is particularly beautiful, with its beautiful old houses, its picturesque Old Port and its Promenade.
Alongside this historic side, Montreal today has districts devoted to the arts, leisure and entertainment. The hill of Mont Royal offers a breathtaking view of the whole city and the nature all around. We find ourselves immersed in nature from the gates of the city. The St. Lawrence River crosses Montreal with its strong current. If you like water and thrills, you can experience it by boat.
It is the second most diverse city in Canada, famous for its cultural side, its gastronomy and its festivals which celebrate the music or the richness of the different cultures that make it up.
Quebec: the old lady
It is one of the oldest Canadian cities and one of the most steeped in historical heritage. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain stopped at the place where the city is today. This Frenchman, sent by the king, chose this strategic location because of the narrowing of the St. Lawrence, which then allowed better river control. Moreover, Quebec means “where the river narrows”. Another strategic element of this place is that it is located high up. This position made it possible to see the enemies and everything that arrives by sea or by land from afar. It was a territory much disputed by the English and the French.
Today, it is the only city to have preserved its fortifications in North America. It sometimes feels like stepping back in time strolling through the city, with its horse-drawn carriages hobbling along cobbled roads and past castles.
Quebec is not only steeped in history, it is also a real cultural and commercial hub. It is a French-speaking city, but its inhabitants also speak fluent English. Its British past is still visible in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.
On the cultural side, there is the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Civilization. Quebec is absolutely beautiful, especially in the old town. The latter houses the Hôtel du Parlement de Québec, the seat of the National Assembly. Also worth seeing in Old Quebec: the Basilica-Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Québec or Place Royale. The Citadel of Quebec is a historic fort that is still actively used today as a military installation.
If there was a must-see place, it would certainly be the Château de Frontenac, a castle-style hotel - prestigious and imposing - which dominates the city.
icon
Free shipping
For orders over 99 €
icon
International Shipping
Tax and customs included
icon
Customer service 7/7
Quick response to your requests
icon
Secure payment
Safe purchase guarantee
Leave a comment
Log in to post comments